Preseason awards can often be tricky, and are usually a waste, but it looks like the MEAC got it right this year. North Carolina A&T running back Tarik Cohen and South Carolina State defensive lineman Javon Hargrave were named the MEAC’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year on Monday.
Cohen rushed for 1,248 yards as a junior, reaching the 1,000 yard mark for the third consecutive year while leading A&T to a share of the MEAC title and a spot in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.
Hargrave had a monster year en route to his second MEAC Defensive Player of the Year award, racking up 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Bethune-Cookman’s Terry Simms picked up the MEAC Coach of The Year award, guiding BCU to a 9-2 record and a share of the conference title his first season as the program’s head coach.
North Carolina Central’s Dorrel McClain was named the Rookie of The Year. The Cary, NC running back rushed for 958 yards, second to Cohen.
A&T’s Brandon Parker was named Offensive Lineman of the Year, helping pave the way for Cohen’s record-breaking season and going all year without allowing a sack or committing a penalty.
Check out the rest of the All-MEAC team.
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | Quentin Williams | r-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Tampa, Fla. |
| RB | Tarik Cohen | Jr.. | North Carolina A&T State | Bunn, N.C. |
| RB | Dorrel McClain | r-Fr. | North Carolina Central | Cary, N.C. |
| WR | Jawill Davis | r-So. | Bethune-Cookman | Miami, Fla. |
| WR | Twarn Mixon | r-Jr. | Hampton | Charlotte, N.C. |
| TE | Tammarrick Hemmingway | r-Sr. | South Carolina State | Loris, S.C. |
| C | Carl Jones | r-Jr. | North Carolina Central | Nashville, Tenn. |
| OL | Dariusz Bladek | Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Kissimmee, Fla. |
| OL | Brandon Parker | r-So. | North Carolina A&T State | Kannapolis, N.C. |
| OL | Torian White | Sr. | Hampton | Inglewood, Calif. |
| OL | Javarius Leamon | r-Jr. | South Carolina State | Woodruff, S.C. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | Javon Hargrave | Sr. | South Carolina State | Salisbury, N.C. |
| DL | Miles Grooms | Sr. | Hampton | Richmond, Va. |
| DL | Gabriel Sherrod | Jr. | Delaware State | Perryville, Md. |
| DL | Marquis Ragland | r-Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | Fayetteville, N.C. |
| LB | Deon King | Sr. | Norfolk State | Reston, Va. |
| LB | Darius Leonard | r-So. | South Carolina State | Lakeview, S.C. |
| LB | Robert Way | r-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Belle Glade, Fla. |
| DB | Tony McRae | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Laurinburg, N.C. |
| DB | C.J. Moore | Sr. | North Carolina Central | Raleigh, N.C. |
| DB | Marquis Drayton | r-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. |
| DB | D’Metrius Williams | Sr. | Norfolk State | Virginia Beach, Va. |
| P | Christian Kinney | r-Jr.. | Hampton | Williamsburg, Va. |
| PK | Nigel Macauley | Fr. | North Carolina Central | Fayetteville, N.C. |
| RS | Khris Gardin | So. | North Carolina A&T State | Morganton, N.C. |
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | David Watford | Gr. | Hampton | Hampton, Va. |
| RB | Anthony Jordan | Gr. | Bethune-Cookman | Atlanta, Ga. |
| RB | Jalen Simmons | Sr. | South Carolina State | Charlotte, N.C. |
| WR | Taquan West | Sr. | South Carolina State | Lexington, S.C. |
| WR | Denzel Keyes | Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | Kinston, N.C. |
| TE* | Nathan Scruggs | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| TE* | Myles Williams | r-Sr. | Howard | Perris, Calif. |
| TE* | Ja-Quan Lumas | r-So. | Bethune-Cookman | Orlando, Fla. |
| C | Michael Young | r-Jr. | Hampton | Atlanta, Ga. |
| OL | Clevonne Davis | Sr. | North Carolina Central | Miramar, Fla. |
| OL | Desmond Cooper | r-Jr. | North Carolina Central | Stafford, Va. |
| OL | Mike Phillips | Sr. | Norfolk State | Virginia Beach, Va. |
| OL | Toree Boyd | Jr. | Howard | Miami, Fla. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | Angelo Keyes | r-Jr. | North Carolina A&T State | Kinston, N.C. |
| DL | Reggie Owens | Sr. | South Carolina State | Statesboro, Ga. |
| DL | Richard Mitchell | Sr. | North Carolina Central | Southhaven, Miss. |
| DL | James Settles | r-Sr. | South Carolina State | McCormick, S.C. |
| LB | Denzel Jones | r-Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Greensboro, N.C. |
| LB | Donald Smith | r-Sr. | Bethune-Cookman | Tampa, Fla. |
| LB | Jordan Miles | r-Jr. | North Carolina Central | Woodbridge, Va. |
| DB | Chris Pauling | Sr. | South Carolina State | High Point, N.C. |
| DB | Ryan Smith | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| DB | Antonio Hamilton | r-Sr. | South Carolina State | Johnston, S.C. |
| DB | Travon Hunt | Jr. | Howard | Lawndale, N.C. |
| P | Jack Fleck | Sr. | Howard | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| *PK | Jack Fleck | Sr. | Howard | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| RS | Ryan Smith | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| QB | Malcolm Bell | r-Jr. | North Carolina Central | Richmond, Va. |
| RB | Michael Jones | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Sarasota, Fla. |
| RB | Christopher Dukes | r-Sr. | Hampton | Mobile, Ala. |
| WR | Isaac White | Sr. | Norfolk State | Portsmouth, Va. |
| WR | Montavious Williams | r-Jr. | Florida A&M | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| TE | N/A | |||
| C | Dominique Woods | Jr. | Morgan State | Skyline, Texas |
| OL | Zachary Giles | r-Sr. | North Carolina Central | Durham, N.C. |
| OL | Cooper Clarkin | Fr. | Morgan State | Middleton, Conn. |
| OL | Sean Fogarty | Fr. | Savannah State | Savannah, Ga. |
| OL | Devon Stainrod | Sr. | Savannah State | Baltimore, Md. |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown |
| DL | Chris Lee | So. | Norfolk State | Woodbridge, Va. |
| DL | Michael Neal | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Greensboro, N.C. |
| DL | Charles Owens | r-Sr. | Hampton | Upper Marlboro, Md. |
| DL | Damon Gresham-Chisolm | Sr. | Howard | Covington, Ga. |
| LB | Joshua Thorne | Sr. | Hampton | Oxon Hill, Md. |
| LB | Malik Harris | So. | Delaware State | Washington, D.C. |
| *LB | Akil Blount | Sr. | Florida A&M | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| *LB | Dayshawn Taylor | r-So. | South Carolina State | Lincolnton, Ga. |
| DB | Marquis Boyan | Sr. | North Carolina A&T State | Columbia, S.C. |
| DB | Peterson Janvier | Sr. | Morgan State | Immokalee, Fla. |
| DB | Craig Johnson | Jr. | Howard | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| DB | Dalonte Hall | Sr. | Morgan State | Fort Washington, Md. |
| P | Jonathan Cagle | Jr. | Bethune-Cookman | Pensacola, Fla. |
| PK | Tyler Scandrett | So. | South Carolina State | Barnesville, Ga. |
| RS | Darius Banks | So. | Hampton | Newport News, Va. |